How do you hold your Kyusu? See OP photo.

chamekke wrote:The Japanese are efficient, but they seldom multi-task when doing this kind of thing. All attention is supposed to be on the one thing you're doing. Maybe it's the Zen influence ... or maybe it's just the Japanese fixation on doing things the prescribed way. Or both

Resurrected due to mention by blairswhitaker in the Ode to Kyusu topic.

I used to use #2 always ... but now I use #2 the mostest. Maybe my handles are getting smaller or my hands are getting bigger ... oh, my kyusu are shrinking ... sort of actually. Steeps are smaller and more recent purchases reflect this.

I think it really depends on the Kyusu, my large Deishi kyusu which is a 13-15 ounce monstrosity gets held way different than my two smaller kyusu. I have a Nerikome of goodwill out (RIP Ian), and I played around with holding it and with this size the First or Modified fist honestly feels best.

Modified fist is nearly identical except the handle goes between my middle and ring finger and I hold the lid on with my index finger, this free's up the thumb to curl around and now plant the handle firmly at a near perfect perpendicular angle into your palm. Although maybe this one only works because I have fairly large hands.

Chip wrote:Resurrected due to mention by blairswhitaker in the Ode to Kyusu topic.

I used to use #2 always ... but now I use #2 the mostest. Maybe my handles are getting smaller or my hands are getting bigger ... oh, my kyusu are shrinking ... sort of actually. Steeps are smaller and more recent purchases reflect this.

I have a kyusu that is in the 24oz range and I typically use it to serve guests large batches of hojicha. I use the grip #4, one hand to lift it and the other to hold the lid. I need to try the number #1 grip with some of my pots that are under 120ml.

I also noticed a long time ago that comfort or natural is at least partially related to how high the table/kyusu is in relation the the body. The higher up the kyusu is, the more unnatuaral #2 begins to feel as the wrist bend becomes more and more obtuse ... bending down to the table awkwardly.